Photo gallery on June 15, 2013, at 21:46:05

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Crops of native grasses being grown through the South Texas Natives & Texas Native Seeds program at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A& M University Kingsville have developed 21 native plant seed sources to provide options other than Old World Bluestem, this crop of two-flower trichloris is one such native grass being grown at the site in Kingsville.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Students at Texas A&M University Kingsville count the number of grasses present within a square at the Welder Wildlife Foundation outside Sinton in May. In areas with Old World Bluestem grass, such as this area, there is a lack of biodiversity as native grasses are choked out. In this square section there is only one other plant present.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times One major issue with Old World Bluestem grasses is that when it dies it flattens out and doesn’t provide any open ground cover. This is detrimental to quail, who when hatched, can’t escape from the grass and can’t find the insects they rely on to survive in the early days of their life.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Texas A&M University Kingsville PhD. student Eric Grahmann (left) and master's student Steven Goertz examine a field inundated with Old World Bluestem grass at the Welder Wildlife Foundation near Sinton in May. Both students are working on research regarding the exotic grass. While the grass was planted at some ranches throughout the early 1900s, Welder never planted the grass. Rather the grass was most likely introduced through oil and gas pipeline management.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Forrest Smith, Dan L. Duncan Endowed Director of South Texas Natives & Texas Native Seeds at Texas A& M University Kingsville, shows a section of Old World Bluestem grass in a plot at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute last month. The program collects native grass seed and then grows crops from the seed. Those seeds are then distributed to commercial seed companies. To date, the program has developed 21 native plant seed sources to provide options other than Old World Bluestem.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Old World Bluestem grass has taken over a field at the Welder Wildlife Foundation outside Sinton. While the grass was planted at some ranches throughout the early 1900s, Welder never planted the grass. Rather the grass was most likely introduced through oil and gas pipeline management. One major issue with the grass is that it reduces biodiversity and chokes out native grasses that are beneficial to habitat.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Students at Texas A&M University Kingsville count the number of grasses present within a square at the Welder Wildlife Foundation outside Sinton in May. In areas with native grasses, such as this, there is a tremendous amount of diversity. In this square section there are 14 different varieties of plants, including bare ground, which is important for quail habitat.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Crops of native grasses being grown through the South Texas Natives & Texas Native Seeds program at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A& M University Kingsville have developed 21 native plant seed sources to provide options other than Old World Bluestem, this crop of slender grama is one such native grass being grown at the site in Kingsville.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Texas A&M University Kingsville Master's student Steven Goertz tosses a pvc square to examine a field with native grasses at the Welder Wildlife Foundation near Sinton in May.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Crops of native grasses being grown through the South Texas Natives & Texas Native Seeds program at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A& M University Kingsville have developed 21 native plant seed sources to provide options other than Old World Bluestem, this crop of sideoats grama is one such native grass being grown at the site in Kingsville.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Crops of native grasses being grown through the South Texas Natives & Texas Native Seeds program at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A& M University Kingsville have developed 21 native plant seed sources to provide options other than Old World Bluestem, this crop of four-flower trichloris is one such native grass being grown at the site in Kingsville.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times A doe is found among foliage at the Welder Wildlife Foundation in Sinton in May. Old World Bluestem grass has a significant impact on wildlife. For deer, the grass chokes out native plants that deer eat.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Old World Bluestem grass can be found along roadways, such as this area along Highway 181 near Sinton, empty fields and yards in the city. One major issue with the grass is that it reduces biodiversity and chokes out native grasses that are beneficial to habitat.